June 2026 4-H Newsletter
Table of Contents
Upcoming in Cumberland County 4-H
June 17: Fun with 4-H, 3:30-4:30 PM, Windham Public Library, 217 Windham Center Rd, Windham
June 18: CC 4-H Leaders & Volunteers Meeting 7:00-9:00 p.m., Online & Gorham Public Works, 80 Huston Road, Gorham
June 22: Maker Monday #8, 4:30-5:30 p.m., 4-H Office in Falmouth
June 30: Animal Approval Forms due
Congratulations to the Class of 2026! We are so proud of our graduating 4-H Seniors and can’t wait to see what you do next!
Animal Approvals
Anyone wishing to show animals at any 4-H shows/events at fairs this year must have a valid Animal Approval Form. All forms must be filled out, signed by the club leader (on the line directly after the last animal listed), and signed and embossed by the county office. 4-Hers will receive a signed and embossed copy in the mail within approximately two weeks of the form being received in our office. The sooner they arrive, the sooner you will have them back.
Please pay special attention to the second side of the form, which lists the proper identification needed for each species of animal. It is very important that this information, along with a signed lease form for any animal that you lease, is sent with your animal approval form. Forms will not be signed if there are leased animals on the form and no lease form, or if there is no extra identification for species of animals that need it. Please also note that each animal may only be leased by one 4-Her and listed on only one 4-Her’s animal approval form. The only exception is that one horse may be leased by two 4-H members and listed on two 4-Her’s animal approval forms. A maximum of 20 animals per species that require an animal approval form may be leased by a member.
Please note if you would like your Animal Approvals back to you in order to participate in some of the earlier fairs, please get them to me sooner rather than later. This allows time for review, processing, & return mailing. Please plan accordingly!
Forms can be found online on the General Volunteer Resources – Forms page.
If you have any questions or would like blank forms sent to you please email Allison at allison.pollock@maine.edu or call at 207-781-6099.
Scholarship and Campership Winners Announced
Congratulations to all the recipients of this year’s 4-H Scholarship and Campership Awards!
Cumberland County Leaders Association Scholarship: Alivia T., Jacob B. & Kendall S.
Susan P. Grover Memorial Scholarship: Alivia T. & Kendall S.
Linda Clark & Margy Justice Scholarship: Alivia T. & Kendall S.
Extension Homemaker’s Scholarship: Alivia T. & Kendall S.
Cumberland County Leader’s Association Campership: Florence G., Luciana G., Brooks B., Moira N., Eleanor G., Marina T., Kennedy D., Addison D., Haven K., Lewis W., Calvin W., Kylie C., William S.
FUN WITH 4-H
Dates: Wednesday, June 17th
Time: 3:30-4:30 PM
Grades: K-3rd
Location: Windham Public Library, 217 Windham Center Rd, Windham, ME
Cost: Free
No registration necessary to participate in this drop-in program
Have questions? Contact Allison by email at allison.pollock@maine.edu or phone 207-581-8370.
4-H Leaders Association Meeting – June 18, 2026 7:00PM
Join us on Thursday, June 18 at 7:00p.m. in-person at the Gorham Public Works Building (80 Huston Road, Gorham) These meetings are a chance to meet volunteers, and to offer input on 4-H programming in Cumberland County! All volunteers are welcome and encouraged to attend! If you would like the Zoom link, contact Allison at email allison.pollock@maine.edu
MAKER MONDAY 2025-2026
Dates: Monday, June 22nd- Ice Cream
Time: 4:30-5:30 PM
Grades: K-5th
Location: UMaine Cooperative Extension Office, 75 Clearwater Dr., Suite 104, Falmouth, ME
Cost: Free
Registration is required for this free program; Register for Maker Monday
Have questions? Contact Allison by email at allison.pollock@maine.edu or phone 207-581-8370.
Agriculture 101 with 4-H
Dates: Thursday, July 16th
Time: 3:30-4:30 PM
Ages: 5-10
Location: Community Room at Thomas Memorial Library, 6 Scott Dyer Rd., Cape Elizabeth, ME
Cost: Free
Registration is required for this free program.
To register, use the 4-H Ice Cream 101 Registration.
Kids Can Can 2026
Garden programming at UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm/UMaine Regional Learning Center
4 Wednesdays: July 15, July 22, July 29 and August 5, 2026
9:00-11:00 AM
Minimum Age: 9 years old by July 15, 2026
Cost: $10 per youth for all 4 weeks
To register, use the Kids Can Can 2026 registration form.
Blueberry jam, pickles, and tomato sauce—all of these foods can be made from scratch with fruits and vegetables grown in your own garden. Join UMaine Extension staff and volunteers in this hands-on, interactive program that will teach kids ages 9 and up how to grow and preserve the garden’s harvest. Each session will begin in the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Gardens at Tidewater Farm as we harvest the fruits and vegetables needed to make jam, pickles, tomato sauce and more. Then we’ll move to the UMaine Regional Learning Center Demo Kitchen and prepare a batch of delicious, preserved foods. Each participant will take home samples of what we make.
4-H Working Steer Tryout Information
The show season is fast approaching! Working steer ESE intent forms (due May 1st), volunteer interest forms, team member guidelines, and apprentice guidelines are all available one at extension.umaine.edu/4h/working-steer/. The dates for team tryouts are listed below.
ESE Working Steer Tryouts:
- June 14, 2026 at Windsor Fairgrounds
- July 11, 2026, Ossipee Valley Fair
- August 13, 2026, Skowhegan Fair
If you have any questions, please contact Hillary Arsenault, ESE coordinator, at maineworkingsteer@gmail.com; 207-592-3320 or Sadee Mehuren at email sadee.mehuren@maine.edu; 207-342-5971
Fairgrounds 5k & Mile, August 30th
Fairgrounds 5K August 30th, 9:00 am at Cumberland Fairgrounds: Proceeds will be donated to CCLA and two other non-profits. They’re encouraging 4-H families to participate in either the one-mile or 5K walk/run events, and are seeking a 4-H Event Ambassador and kids who are willing to attend with their animals for a portion of the day https://www.runlikearacehorse.com/. Please let Allison know if you want to help out during this event or be an event ambassador.
Volunteers Needed: 4-H Kitchen Fundraiser and Pig Raffle Ticket Sales at the Cumberland Fair, September 27- October 3, 2026
The 4-H Kitchen and Pig Raffle Booth is looking for volunteers for the week of the Cumberland Fair to prepare and serve foods as well as sell pig raffle tickets. This is the primary fundraiser held by the Cumberland County 4-H Leaders Association to support all of the scholarships, camperships, County events, and programs.
Shift times:
- 6:30 a.m. – 8:30-9 a.m.
- 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- 4:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Please email Nicole Foster at 4Hkitchencentral@gmail.com or call 207-615-7558 for more details or to sign up – individuals, families, or clubs are welcome!
Club Happenings
GNG 4-H Food Pantry Project Club
All-Star Dairy Club and the GNG 4-H Food Pantry Project Club collaborated on a community service fundraiser during the month of May. The two clubs worked together to hold a joint craft and bake sale at Tractor Supply in Scarborough. Members of both clubs contributed baked goods and craft items and worked together to staff the booth. The event was a great success, despite rainy weather, and all had fun.
The money raised at the event will be used toward the GNG 4-H Food Pantry Project’s mission to purchase market animals raised by 4-Hers in Cumberland County and donate the meat to the food pantries in Gray and New Gloucester.
Your 4-H Club Happenings could be featured here! Just email allison.pollock@maine.edu by the 28th of each month with information about your club meetings, events, or fundraisers. Pictures are always a plus!
State 4-H News
Register Now for the 2026 4-H Summer Learning Series
Registration is now open for this year’s 4-H Summer Learning Series, our largest offering of virtual programming, and will open to the general public on June 5, 2026. Workshops will cover a range of topics – favorites like Adulting 101 and Dissect and Detect, as well as loads of new areas: Intro to Game Lab, Mission to Mars, and all sorts of other topics. Workshops will run from July 6 to August 7, 2026. Find out more on the 4-H Summer Learning website.
Sea Dogs for 4-H
The Maine 4-H Foundation has purchased a group of Sea Dogs tickets for Cooper Flagg Bobble Head night on Wed, Aug 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM. They will be given away in pairs through a raffle. If you are a 4-H member, or young person involved with our camp and learning centers, or online 4-H virtual learning, and want to put your name in for the drawing, please email Julie Hart at julie@themagiclantern.org. Please provide your name and contact information in the email.
Please submit your name by June 15th. We will hold the drawing on June 17th, and then tickets will be mailed to the winners.
The Alfond Grant
Hey there! Do you have a child or grandchild born in Maine on or after January 1, 2013? Guess what? They’ve got something special called a $500 Alfond Grant waiting for them! (The Grant was also available on a more limited basis from 2008 to 2012).
The Alfond Grant is a jumpstart for a child’s education after high school. By the time they graduate high school, their Alfond Grant could be worth up to $2,000!
The Alfond Grant can be used for all sorts of education, such as college, trade school, or even certificates. And it can be used in Maine as well as outside the state.
Curious to know more? Check out www.MyAlfondGrant.org to get all the details. This grant is just the beginning of exciting possibilities for your child’s future education!
Animal Science Challenge
The Maine 4-H Foundation is offering a challenge to 4-H animal science committees and programs. The Foundation will match up to $3,000 per committee to support animal science programs and educational programs. A 1 to 1 match will be made for current and past donors, and 1:2 matches for new donors. Questions can be asked by contacting Susan Jennings at 207-615-7300, or email maine4hfoundation@gmail.com.
New 4-H Rabbit and Poultry Opportunity!
4-H members now have an exciting new opportunity to showcase their skills at The Big E’s first 4-H Rabbit & Poultry Show! Open to youth ages 12 and above, this event is a great way to learn new skills, compete in regional 4-H shows, and connect with others who share an interest in rabbits and poultry.
Participants can look forward to a variety of engaging activities, including breed shows, showmanship competitions, agility contests, and more. Whether you’re experienced or just getting started, this event offers something for everyone. Interested in participating or learning more? Be sure to complete the interest form.
For more information please contact Sadee Mehuren at 207-342-5971 or at email sadee.mehuren@maine.edu
June 2026 4-H Volunteer Corner: Your corner for connection, tips, and tricks!
Developmental Relationships
What are Developmental Relationships? These are positive connections between youth and caring adults that provide a foundation for growth, fostering trust, warmth, and mutual respect. The caring, consistent connections that you engage in with 4-H members help youth grow. By building a relationship of trust, such relationships can give young people the encouragement and guidance they need to succeed. In essence, developmental relationships are the nurturing connection that helps youth in 4-H programs navigate their experiences and develop into well-rounded, purposeful individuals.
When we observe a developmental relationship we see
- active engagement and trust,
- balanced power dynamics and
- intentional connection.
Developmental relationships sound like
- words of encouragement,
- praise for effort and achievements, and
- expressions that the person feels known, valued, and enjoyed.
4-H Volunteer Summit
Saturday, November 7, 2026
We hope this is where you will plan to be! We have an amazing line up for the day with engaging workshops, a Discovery Zone, a 4-H Pop Up Shop and more! Save the date, check out the 4-H Volunteer Summit webpage and look for registration to open soon!
Resource Spotlight
Does your 4-H club have officers and run a short business meeting? If so, check out this Parliamentary Procedure resource from the University of Illinois Extension. Super simple to understand, it will provide guidance on how to run a business meeting that is orderly and efficient. The rules are designed to ensure that everyone has a chance to participate, be heard and help the group reach decisions. If you are looking for some activities to help teach parliamentary procedure to young people, try this Parliamentary Procedure Activities Resource from Michigan State University. Let us know if you try one out- we’d love to hear how it went!
Other UMaine Extension Cumberland County News
UMaine Extension Cumberland County offers many different workshops throughout the year. To learn more about our workshop offerings, please visit extension.umaine.edu/cumberland/events/list/